Conveyer



Aug` 4, 1931. c. R. cLAGHoRN CONVEYER Filed sept. '25. 1929 1o sheets-sheet 1l Aug 4, 1931 c. R. cLAGHoRN 1,817,348

CONVEYER Filed Sept. 25. 1929 lO Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY A1lg 4, 1931 c. R. cLAGHoRN 1,817,348

CONVEYER Filed Sept. 23. 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Aug. 4, 1931. c. R. cLAGHoRN CONVEYER 1o sheets-sheet 5 Filed Sept. 23, 1929 Aug. 4, 1931. c. R. cLAGHoRN CON VEYER 1o' sheets-sheet 6 Filed Sept. 23. 1929 TTORNEY .w L--l @am www.

/l BY Aug. 4, 1931.

C. R. CLAGHORN y GONVEYER Filed Sept. 2 3, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 A' TTORNE Y Aug. 4, 1931. c. R. cLAGHoRN 1,817,348

coNvEYER Filed Sept. 25. 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Aug. 4, 1931. c. R. cLAGHoRN 1,817,348

coNvEYER Y Filed sept. 2s. 192e 1o sheets-sheet 9 Aug. 4, 1931. c. R. cLAGHoRN 1,817,348

CONVEYER Filed sept. 2s, 1929 1o sheets-sheet `1o RNEY.

Patented Aug. 4, 193.1

UNITED STATES CLARENCE R. CLAGHORN, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND CONVEYER Application illed September 23, 1929. Serial No. 394,439.

are of the first importance, Shafts are sunk in suchl mining, and then the seams are cut or tunneled across, from shaft to shaft. and then from the tunnels passages are run to the chambers. These cuts or tunnels or chambers are sometimes level, but more often they go up and down hill following the seams, and coal or ore must be removed as they are cut. Their roofs are often so low that the operatives have to go through on hands and feet. The ordinary straight horizontal conveyers available are usually not suitable to this work, they will not take the uneven positions required, nor be effective over the great distances nor the variable distances required, nor are they readily transportable to the tunnels. The conveyer of my invention will work effectively over a considerable distance, and it can be varied in length between that distance and a very short distance. Since the coal or ore is often wet, in the conveyers hereto available, the conveyer belt gets wet and slips on its drive rolls.

The objects of my invention are to overcome the above di culties, to make a conveyer that will work effectively over an uneven surface, for variable, and considerable lengths, one in which the conveyer belt does not slip, one which is easily transportable, and to improve the slack take-up mechanism, and other details, and to otherwise construct a conveyer suitable for use in difficult operating conditions. The various improvements and advantages of the conveyer will more particularly appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of vthe conveyer; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing how it takes uneven positions; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view showing the conveyer rolls, the conveyer and the slack take-up roll; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of part of the driving and delivery end, and Fig. 5 is a continuation thereof. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of Fig. 4;'Fig. 7 is a plan view of part of the driving and delivery end and Fig. 8 is a continuation thereof, showing part o f the power unit mechanism; Fig. 9 is a continuation of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the top drive rollv on line 10-10 of Fig. 4; Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a partial sectional view of the adjusting means for the top drive roll on liiie 12-12 of Fig. 4. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line 13-13 of Fig. 5. Fig. 14 is a partial plan view of the receiving end, and Fig. 15 is in part a continuation thereof and in part a view of the intermediate conveyer rolls. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of part of the receiving end and Fig. 17 is a continuation thereof, showing too, the variable length spreader. is a sectional view on line 18-18 of Fig. 17

and Fig. 19 is a sectional view on line 19-19 of Fig. 15. Fig. 20 is a partial sectional view on line 20-20 of Fig. 16. Fig. 21 is a sectional view on line 21-21 of Fig. 16.` Fig. 22 is a plan View of the intermediate conveyer supports, and Fig. 23 is an end view thereof. Fig. 24 is a front view thereof, showing the manner of removing the u perroll, Fig. 25 is an enlarged View of tllfe top roll bracket-on line 25-25 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 26 is an end view of the roll bracket on the spreaders and Fig. 27 is a partial sectional front view thereof. Fig. 28 is a front View of a troughing roll.

Fig. 29 is a front elevation of a modified form of intermediate conveyer support; Fig. 30 is an end elevation thereof, and Fig. 31 is a plan view thereof.

In the drawings, similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. l

The conveyer belt 1 is of the endless type, built lup of sections joined together, as at 2 so that sections may be taken out or put in, to shorten or lengthen the whole structure.

The belt runs over a number of rolls, generally referred to as 3. These rolls are mounted in a driving and delivery yend 4, intermediate belt supports, 5, and a receiving end 6.

Fig. 18

The driving and delivery end is built up of a number of channels, angles and plates, and the u per longitudinal channels extend out over t e lower ones, as shown. vin Fig. 4, thus allowing for a receiving member under the discharge or delivery end of the conveyer. In the upper channels is a drive roll 7, built up hollow, as shown in Fig. 10, and keyed to the shaft 8, which at one side is in sliding bearing 9, which is placed by screws 10, and held fast by bolts 11. At the other end of theshaft, sprocket 12, keyed thereto, is driven by chain 13, which is in turn driven by a sprocket on one end of shaft 14. Shaft 14 is driven by a large sprocket 15, driven from the power unit hereafter described. Also keyed to this shaft 14, on the same end as sprocket 15, is another sprocket, driving chain 16 which rotates sprocket 17 keyed to shaft 18 on which the lower drive roll 19 is also keyed. These sprockets and rolls are so proportione'd as to both drive the beltin the same direction and at the same speed. Chain 16 has an adjustable slack take-up sprocket 20. Between these two drive rolls, the belt passes over a slack take-up roll 21, mounted to freely rotate on bearings 22, one of which can be longitudinally moved, by set screw 23, to keep the belt on the roll evenly. Bearings 22 can be longitudinally moved, in unison, by means of pinions 24 keyed to shaft 25, mounted therein. These pinions mesh with racks 26 on both sides of the driving and delivery end, as shown in Figs. 5, 9 and 13. Pinions 24 may be rotated, in either direction, by pinion 26', keyed to shaft 27, which may be turned from either end by ratchet wrench 28. Dog 29 pivoted on one bearing 22 will thereby hold both bearings 22 in adjusted position. A very considerable adjustment can be rapidly made by means of this mechanism.

Besides the drive roll and slack takeup roll in the driving and delivery end, there are a plurality of other rolls, 3, which are fixed to their shafts, and which shafts, at one end, t into a round bearing, and at the other, into a U shaped bearing', to allowy of their removal, as shown respectively at 30 and 31, Fig. 7. Roll 32, just back of drive roll 7, causes the belt to almost completely surround drive roll 7, to give the maximum of traction to the belt. To more firmly support the upper run of the belt near drive roll 7, a plate, 33, extends from side to side of this end.

To securely grasp this end of the conveyer, bars 34 having eyes 35 at each end is fixed to each side of it.

A pan 36, having similar bars with eyes, 37 and 38 respectively, is at one side of this end of the conveyer. This pan may be detachably pinned to either side of the conveyer, by passing pin 39 through the eyes 38 and eyed angles 40, on the sides of this end of the conveyer. In this pan 36 is a. false bottom, 41, held down by cut-off screws 42 projecting through the side walls of the pan. Onto this false bottom, through holes 43, a motor 44 is bolted. This motor, through clutch mechanism 45 operates a screw reduction gear 46, which is also bolted to the false bottom through holes 47. From this reduction gear 46, chain 48 drives sprocket 15. The false bottom on the pan may be adjusted, to tighten or loosen chain. 48, by means of the screws 49 screwed into threaded angles fast to the bottom.

At the other end of the conveyer is a receiving end, 6, likewise built up of channels, angles and plates and having rolls 3, 50 and 51 therein. Thebearings of roll 50 are adjustable longitudinally, as shown in Figs. 16 and 20, to keep the belt evenly on the roll. Above the belt, and to direct the coal or other material to the belt is a hopper, 52. On one side of the hopper is a deflector, 53, held by pins 54. These pins fit in holes 55 in the top of the receiving end. The

Yholes are on both sides of the end, to allow for reversing the deector. Bars 56, with eyes at each end, form runners and additional support to this end.

Just above the lower run of the belt, and ahead of roll 51, a plow frame 57 is pivoted, as shown in Fig. 16. This frame is kept from contact with the belt by wheels 58 mounted thereon. 0n each side of this frame, strips of material 59, similar to the belting, are placed. These strips have slots 60 in them and they work freely up and down on bolts 61, resting always freely on the top of the belt and deflecting from the belt any material that may have collected, prior to the belt going over the end roll 50.

Between these two ends there are a plurality of intermediate belt supports 5, built up of castings, angles and bars. These supports have a low-er roll 62, fast therein, for

the return run of the belt. These rolls run in castings 63, at the ends of the supports. Above these rolls 62 are the rolls 64 to support the carrying run of the belt. Rolls 64 are fast on spindles 65. The bearings for these spindles have ends, 66, to keep the spindles in place and to keep out dirt. The ends have openings 67, extending to the bottom of the bearings, to allow for dirt to be forced out bythe spindles. The bearings have tops 68. The spindles are so long that they cannot be lifted out, straight up, because of tops-68. lower run of the belt might lift the spindle, when the supports are in a depression, but these tops will hold them in the bearings. The spindles may be lifted out by pushing them lengthwise, as shown in Figs. 24 and A sudden pull on the lveyer is lengthened or shortened, without removing the belt.

E At each end of these supports are two pins 69, and similar pins are at each side of both ends of the conve er. p Over these ins the holes in the ends -o angles, orsprea ers,

70, are loosely placed. Near' the yreceiving end, spreaders -of-variable length are placed in case the spreaders`of fixed length should not make the conveyer of thepdesired length.

The variable length spreaders are composed of sections of angles, just like the spreaders Aof fixed length. Over the loose ends of adjacent spreaders, sleeves 7l are passed.

, These sleeves have several holes therein, and 0.

the spreader lengths have,` corresponding holes, so that when the desired length of spreaders is obtained, they may be held at that the roll spindles nced not clear the top 4of the bearings at one end, to remove the that length by the insertion of pins 72 into the holes. Where the receiving end is rigidly held extended by other means these variable length s preaders may be dispensed with in practice. v

Intermediate between the spreaders are bearings 73, thereon, constructed similar to those on the intermediate supports, except spindles, since removing lthe spreaders will free the spindles. 1

. On these bearings 73 are mounted troughing rools, 7 4. The end sections of these rolls rotate independently of the center section, which, due to their different diameters where they Contact with the belt, will produce no slipping and therefore, less wearon the belt. This is `clearly shown in Fig. 28.l The ends may be iloosely-held on the spindles by nuts 75.b These troughing rolls may be more or less frequent than shown, if desired, since .they are needed only to keep the material from working off .the belt. n

A modified -intermediate belt support is shown in Figs. 29, and 31, this support is built up similarly to that above described, except that, above roll 62, members- 76 have .pins 77 thereon, over which fit holes 78 in angles 79. To angles 79 cross pieces 80 are fixed, and in thesecross pieces roll 81 is mounted in bearings 82. Also to these cross pieces 80 diagonally directed bearings 82 are fast, and in these bearings, spind1es83 are likewise fast. Over these spindles Atroughing rolls 84 are rotatably placed.

receiving end is tended, will take uneven positions, it also shows the receiving end backed against a wall of a mine, with' the end held 1n place by jacks 76. This end could be anchored in any desired manner. The head end could also be anchored by stakes attached to eyes or elsewhere, were its weight not sufcient to hold it. The spreaders also tend vto hold the ends and supports apart and in proper alignment for the belt. lThe uite movable, so that it may always be p aced right up near the material to be taken out, and the belt extended either by moving roll 21 or by inserting another length of belt.

When it is ydesired to transport the conveyer, the belt may be removed and the ends and power unit pulled out by pulling them by the eyes lrigidly attached to them. Or in the event of a cave in, the head end and power unit could be readily detached and pulled out to safety.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the invention as shown will be effective for various general uses and applications, and that many changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or sacrificing its material advantages the form hereinafter described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof, and I contemplate the employment of anygstructures that are within the scope of the appended claims.

- What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a fiexible and extensible conveycr adapted to rest upon and conform to the surface of the ground, a driving and delivery end supporting structure, a receiving end supporting structure, an independent intermediate belt support, a plurality of conveyer rolls in each of said supporting structures and a conveyer roll in said intermediate belt support, a flexible' continuous conveyer belt passing over said rolls, and means to space said supporting structures and said intermediate support to hold them in a predetermined linear position.

2. In a flexible and extensible conveycr adapted to rest upon and conform to the surface of the ground, a driving and delivery rend supporting structure, a receiving end supporting structure, an independent intermediate belt support, va plurality of conveycr rolls in each of said supporting structures and a conveycr roll in said intermediate belt support, a flexible continuous conveycr belt passing over said rolls, and a plurality of spreaders between said supporting structures and intermediate support adapted to hold said ends and support in a predetermined linear position. y

3. In a flexible and extensible conveycr adapted to rest uponk and conform to the surface of the ground, a driving and de 4. In a flexible and extensible conveyerl ada ted t-o rest upon and conform to the sur ace of the ground, a driving and delivery end supporting structure, a receiving end supporting structure, an independent intermediate support for the upper and lower runs of an endless conveyer belt, a plurality of conveyer rolls in each of said supporting structures and an upper and lower conveyer roll in said intermediate belt support, a plurality of removable spreaders between said supporting structures and intermediate support, a plurality of detachable belt rolls on said spreaders, and an endless conveyer belt passing over all said rolls.

5. In a. conveyer, a driving and delivery end, a receiving end, a conveyer roll therein, an upper driven conveyer roll at the outer end of said driving and delivery end, a lower driven conveyer roll in said last named end, a bodily movable roll in said last named end removed from the outer end thereof, and placed to the rear of both said driven rolls, an independent intermediate belt support, having conveyer rolls therein, an endless flexible conveyer belt wound over said receiving end roll, said belt support rolls and said driven rolls and said bodily movable roll in said driving and delivery end whereby said belt obtains constant traction from said driven rolls for substantially half of their traction surface, said driven rolls being so geared and proportioned as to drive said belt in the same direction and at a uniform speed, and means to move said movable roll to take up slack in said belt.

6. In a conveyer, a driving and delivery end, a receiving end having a conveyer roll therein, an upper driven roll at the outer end of said driving and delivery end, a lower driving roll in said last named end, a bodily movable roll in said last named end removed from the outer end thereof, and placed to the rear of both said driven rolls, an independent intermediate belt support having a conveyer roll therein, an endless 4flexible conveyer belt wound over said receivin end roll, said belt support roll and said riven rolls and said bodily movable roll in said driving and delivery end whereby said belt obtains constant traction from said driven rolls for substantially half of their traction surface, said driven rolls being so geared and proportioned as to drive said belt in the same direction and at a uniform speed, and means to move said movable roll to take up slack in said belt, and means to space sai ends to hold them in a predetermined linear position.

7. In a conveyer, a driving and delivery end, a receiving end having a conveyer roll therein, an upper driven roll at the outer end of said driving and'deliver end, a lower driven roll and guides and rac s in said last named end, a roll movable bodily on said guides by pinions geared to said racks, said last named roll being placed to the rear of both said driven rolls, an independent intermediate belt support having a conveyer roll therein, an endless flexible conveyer belt wound over said receiving end roll, said belt support roll and said driven rolls and said bodily movable roll in said driving and delivery end whereby said' belt obtains constant traction from said driven rolls for substantially half of their traction surface, said driven rolls being so geared and proportioned as to drive said belt in the same direction and at a uniform speed, and means to adjust said movable roll to take up slack in said belt, and means to anchor said ends to hold said belt in a predetermined linear position.

8. In a flexible and extensible conveyer, adapted to rest upon and conform to the surface of the ground comprising, at each end thereof, a supporting structure having a conveyer roll mounted adjacent each end of said structure, an vendless flexible conveyer belt passing over said rolls, an independent intermediate belt support, said support having therein a lower roll to support the idle run of said belt and an upper roll to support the active run of said belt, and means to removably hold said upper roll in operative position, whereby, upon the removal of said upper roll, the idle run of said belt may be readily removed from said intermediate belt support.

9. In a flexible and extensible conveyer, adapted to rest upon and conform to the surface of the ground comprising, ateach end thereof, a supporting structure having a conveyer roll mounted adjacent each end of said structure, an endless flexible conveyer belt passing over said rolls, an independent intermediate belt support, said support having therein a lower roll to support the idle run of said belt. and an upper roll to support the active run of said belt, and means to removably hold said upper roll in operative position, whereby, upon the removal of said upper roll, the idle run of said belt may be readily removed from said intermediate belt support, and means to space said end structures and said support to hold said belt in a predetermined linear position.

10. In a flexible and extensible conveyer adapted to rest upon and conform to the surface of the ground, a, driving and delivery end supporting structure, a receiving end supporting structure, a lurality of conveyer rolls in each of sai supporting structures, a conveyer belt passing over said rolls, means to hold said ends in a, predetermined extended position, rigid runners attached to the bottom of said supporting structures, extending beyond veach side thereof, to grip said supporting structures to move them from place to place.

CLARENCE R. CLAGHORN. 

